Iron Grenadier Destro

[Kris Smith]

Greetings, HissTank.com!

My name's Kris, I'm an illustrator that after a long absence of actually getting stuff done has just returned to fan-art on the intarwebs. I'm new here and you'll see me in the Fan Art forum posting up any new art (GI Joe related, of course) I end up doing. My art style is very heavily influenced by western animation styles and in whatever art I do, I go into it with the fake scenario that I'm doing it as if I was in charge of character design for an animated series of whatever I'm doing art of.

I just started back up with the art-thing and the first piece I've done is my take on the Iron Grenadier incarnation of Destro (which I've also used his head as my avatar)

Here he is:

http://deathwind13.deviantart.com/art/Iron-Grenadier-Destro-71795057

Please check it out, let me know what you think, I hope you like my take on my fave incarnation of Destro.

There are 2 crappier GI Joe related art pieces way back in the DeviantArt archive, but they suck. (A so-so but too tall Sgt. Slaughter and a really broke-ass afwul stretched out classic Destro, these were test pieces and they SUCK) So far IG Destro is the only new Joe related art I have up, but more characters to follow VERY soon (got a few in the works as we speak)

I will be getting more GI Joe related artwork done continuously in the near future (Joe was part of my "toy/cartoon holy trinity" as a child along with Transformers and Masters of the Universe) and I hope you'll enjoy what I have to show you :-) I do art of other things than GI Joe, but it will be one of my more frequent subjects.

Long-winded post is long-winded (I have a habit of it sometimes, apologies in advance)

- Kris

[n3rf]

To be honest, I'm not really crazy about that style (I thought it was cool when I first saw them do it w/ Batman because it was different, but I didn't think it'd take over every other cartoon)...maybe this is the reason why I think your other Joe examples are just as good.

Sgt Slaughter has always been an exaggeration in my eyes and you really bring it out.

I particularly like how you gave a Roman-like chisel to your IG Destro. Even if I'm not a fan of the style, I think it's awesome work and I'll definitely keep an eye out to see if/when other spins on favorites show up in your collection (like Zartan, hint, hint)!

[The Commander]

Great job, I like it! How about a CC/Destro confrontation based off issue #118 seen below:

[G.I.Eddie]

i tend to be a fan of all artistic styles, except anime...i like seeing different spins on the same subject matter...this is really cool Kris...
i like all the stuff you've done...although a little on the more kid'ish side, i'd watch a Joe cartoon in this style...the Sarge and Classic Destro are equally as cool as your IG Destro...i'm really dig'n the Superheros too

[WildWeasel]

That is some very cool work. I could get behind a show done in that style, I think. Great stuff, keep it coming.

[Monkeywrench]

Very Cool work. I like it. I also would like to see a Zartan but either way, keep them coming.

[C.I.A.D.]

I friggin' love it...but then again, I'm an IG Junkie, so I'd say I love it either way! :D

[apacolypse]

I like it!!! Great Job!!

[Shin Densetsu]

Another illustrator? This place is getting less lonelier! Chock full of for the win!

Welcome aboard Kris, I like that Destro drawing!

[Steel Brigade]

Welcome Kris!! This picture of Destro is OUTSTANDING!! The color choice & balnce is just great & I love the weight the figure has... I totally relate to everything you said about your Cartoon/Toy Trinity, & designing a project for Joes like you were in charge of the character design for a new animated series, as I think the exact same way... I drew my Scarlett Avatar, & will be doing a project similar to yours in 2008 for GI Joe, & I very much look forward to you works!!

PS: Your He-Man ROCKS!!

[Shin Densetsu]

WOW Steel Brigade I did intend to ask who drew that avatar of yours, thats a great job man!

[Kris Smith]

note: just gonna reply en masse here, hope you all dont mind, I sorta realized in my half sleepness that I'm flooding with reply after reply. I've deleted the previous replies and just copy-pasted them all into this one big reply, forgot I could do that. Sorry XD

To be honest, I'm not really crazy about that style (I thought it was cool when I first saw them do it w/ Batman because it was different, but I didn't think it'd take over every other cartoon)...maybe this is the reason why I think your other Joe examples are just as good.

Sgt Slaughter has always been an exaggeration in my eyes and you really bring it out.

I particularly like how you gave a Roman-like chisel to your IG Destro. Even if I'm not a fan of the style, I think it's awesome work and I'll definitely keep an eye out to see if/when other spins on favorites show up in your collection (like Zartan, hint, hint)!
Hey, no offense taken, this sorta style isn't for everyone :-) Actually shows like The Batman and X-Men: Evolution actually gave me the courage to post my take on characters without being afraid of cries of "blasphemy!" Always have had a more "animated" look to my art and back in the day if it didn't look like a comic or was realistic, you couldn't be taken seriously as a comic artist But that was LONG time ago :-P

btw, Zartan is definately high-up on my short-list of "to-do" characters, I can't wait to take a crack at him.


Great job, I like it! How about a CC/Destro confrontation based off issue #118 seen below:

lol, I remember that cover, it's been such a long time :-P That's actually a pretty good idea, I'll have to keep that in mind as I've been toying with the idea of "recreating" covers or pages in my style, just to see what it would look like. No slight on the original artists, I'd just love to have seen what itd be like to have done it. They're recreating covers for the 25th comic 2-packs so why can't I? XD


i tend to be a fan of all artistic styles, except anime...i like seeing different spins on the same subject matter...this is really cool Kris...
i like all the stuff you've done...although a little on the more kid'ish side, i'd watch a Joe cartoon in this style...the Sarge and Classic Destro are equally as cool as your IG Destro...i'm really dig'n the Superheros too

Thanks! Yeah, it is a little lighter-tone looking, but at least I'm not doing gothic artwork, that just wouldn't hold the mood very well :-P Come to think of it, there are ways, just look a the Spawn cartoon from the 90s.



That is some very cool work. I could get behind a show done in that style, I think. Great stuff, keep it coming.

Thanks! As for a Joe cartoon like that, you and me both. I'd kill to see a Destro like that running around on screen XD


Very Cool work. I like it. I also would like to see a Zartan but either way, keep them coming.

More Zartan requests :-) Yeah, he's definately being added to "coming REALLY soon" list XD


I friggin' love it...but then again, I'm an IG Junkie, so I'd say I love it either way!

Thanks! Yeah, IGs frickin RULE. The original Iron Grenadier was one of my faves as a kid.


I like it!!! Great Job!!

Thank you, I'm glad you dig it :-)



Another illustrator? This place is getting less lonelier! Chock full of for the win!

Welcome aboard Kris, I like that Destro drawing!

Glad to be aboard, glad you liked it! More illustrators the merrier!


Welcome Kris!! This picture of Destro is OUTSTANDING!! The color choice & balnce is just great & I love the weight the figure has... I totally relate to everything you said about your Cartoon/Toy Trinity, & designing a project for Joes like you were in charge of the character design for a new animated series, as I think the exact same way... I drew my Scarlett Avatar, & will be doing a project similar to yours in 2008 for GI Joe, & I very much look fprward to you works!!

PS: Your He-Man ROCKS!!

I'm glad you like it :-) And glad you dug my He-Man too! (more MotU characters are on the way, just not posted here, that would be wrong XD ) And its really cool you got the same outlook on character design as me, its proof I'm not crazy when someone sees it the same way :-P btw, that Scarlett avatar RAWKS!!! Looking forward to whatever you got cookin'!

[Steel Brigade]

WOW Steel Brigade I did intend to ask who drew that avatar of yours, thats a great job man!

Thanks a bunch SD!! yes I drew Scarlett.. stop by my Art Blog sometime & say hello... There is lots of Masters Of The Universe art there right now, BUT there will hopefully be a LOT of GI Joe work there in 2008!!

http://jafaristew.blogspot.com/


I'm glad you like it :-) And glad you dug my He-Man too! (more MotU characters are on the way, just not posted here, that would be wrong XD ) And its really cool you got the same outlook on character design as me, its proof I'm not crazy when someone sees it the same way :-P btw, that Scarlett avatar RAWKS!!! Looking forward to whatever you got cookin'!

Thank you Kris! We will have to watch each other & keep up a good artistic pace for the Joe baords next year, I will be looking forwrad to that, your MOTU work, & whatever else you bring to the table. Your a talented guy & I for one am a fan!!

[sharke]

nice work dude! very impressive.

[Shin Densetsu]

Thanks a bunch SD!! yes I drew Scarlett.. stop by my Art Blog sometime & say hello... There is lots of Masters Of The Universe art there right now, BUT there will hopefully be a LOT of GI Joe work there in 2008!!

http://jafaristew.blogspot.com/



Thank you Kris! We will have to watch each other & keep up a good artistic pace for the Joe baords next year, I will be looking forwrad to that, your MOTU work, & whatever else you bring to the table. Your a talented guy & I for one am a fan!!
You're welcome man! I'm on blogspot too, I'll give you a link once my work is up there. I am glad more illustrators are signing up here. GROUP ARTJAM AT WHICHEVER CON SHIN ENDS UP GOING TO!

[Kris Smith]

Thank you Kris! We will have to watch each other & keep up a good artistic pace for the Joe baords next year, I will be looking forwrad to that, your MOTU work, & whatever else you bring to the table. Your a talented guy & I for one am a fan!!

Yes, we'll definately have to do so :-) 2008 will be our year! We'll take over the art forum!!!!!! **shakes fists** XD


nice work dude! very impressive.

Thanks, man, glad you like it!


I am glad more illustrators are signing up here.

Did you do that Storm Shadow in your sig? Either way it are awesome! Lookin' forward to seeing what you got in store!

[Shin Densetsu]

Yes, we'll definately have to do so :-) 2008 will be our year! We'll take over the art forum!!!!!! **shakes fists** XD




Thanks, man, glad you like it!




Did you do that Storm Shadow in your sig? Either way it are awesome! Lookin' forward to seeing what you got in store!
Thanks! Yep thats me man, I drew that for the WWIII sig contest we held over summer. I actually regret drawing it that way, as a few days later I drew a Storm Shadow hood that looks so much better.

[Kris Smith]

Thanks! Yep thats me man, I drew that for the WWIII sig contest we held over summer. I actually regret drawing it that way, as a few days later I drew a Storm Shadow hood that looks so much better.
Thats usually how it is :-P the last like 4 art pieces I've done have all be "just how I want it" until the next one ends up doing something way better and the previous piece becomes obsolete XD

[Porkchop Sandwiches]

I enjoy drawing and wish I was as good as you.

[Gentleman]

Well, well... what have we here!

That Destro is VERY pro. You could perfectly pitch art like this to Hasbro sometime in the near future, for you can bet they'll be making a new toon after the movie comes out.

And I don't think they'll be using the Sigma 6 style again, so maybe they could use something like this instead. It is "fashionable" nowadays. Realistic (?) toons seem to be a thing from the past. And it makes some sense because it may be faster to produce art like this than something realistic (not saying one is better or worse than the other, just stating a fact).



Anyways... great shit. Destro's always been my favorite character and I'll gladly look at any art inspired by him. Let's see what you come up with next.



Also,

Shin Densetsu & Steel Brigade: Nice stuff as well! I always figured that it had to be art of your own (the avatar and the signature, respectively), but now we have a confirmation (?).



There's also another new fella posting some Sigma 6 stuff - I'll leave a message in that topic now.





Art Team assemble!

I'll be the "outsider". Dated my art is. For old timers :p

[Kris Smith]

I enjoy drawing and wish I was as good as you.
Just keep practicing, it will come :-) Or, just do what I did and have no life for a few years, it helped XD

By the way, you have the most awesome name EVAR, the Fensler Films PSAs were works of pure genius! :-)

Well, well... what have we here!

That Destro is VERY pro. You could perfectly pitch art like this to Hasbro sometime in the near future, for you can bet they'll be making a new toon after the movie comes out.

And I don't think they'll be using the Sigma 6 style again, so maybe they could use something like this instead. It is "fashionable" nowadays. Realistic (?) toons seem to be a thing from the past. And it makes some sense because it may be faster to produce art like this than something realistic (not saying one is better or worse than the other, just stating a fact).

Anyways... great shit. Destro's always been my favorite character and I'll gladly look at any art inspired by him. Let's see what you come up with next.

Also,

Shin Densetsu & Steel Brigade: Nice stuff as well! I always figured that it had to be art of your own (the avatar and the signature, respectively), but now we have a confirmation (?).

There's also another new fella posting some Sigma 6 stuff - I'll leave a message in that topic now.

Art Team assemble!

I'll be the "outsider". Dated my art is. For old timers
Glad you like it! Yeah, I figure the next Joe cartoon wont be anime (and wont be out till after the movie) especially with Transformers going for western take for the first time since Beast Machines it'll probably go that route. Pipe dream, but I would be nice to see a Joe cartoon similar to this. But I'm biased XD And yes, it is presently used mainly due to ease of animation, it's much easier (and can be really dynamic if its an action-adventure show) and way faster for them to animate and keeps the budget WAY down. Hear that Hasbro? I work for cheap! Let me design your post-movie cartoon!!

There's nothing wrong with realistic art, I saw your "real-life" Cobra Commander and that thing is wicked! Sure, there's not much of a place for guys like Serpentor or Cobra-La or the V-Troops in a more realistic style/take, but it definately works for Joe for the first like 5 years or so (and more) worth of characters. Want to see more "real-life" takes on characters NAOW! Do like, Firelfly, he'd fit that SO well :-)

[Steel Brigade]

You're welcome man! I'm on blogspot too, I'll give you a link once my work is up there. I am glad more illustrators are signing up here. GROUP ARTJAM AT WHICHEVER CON SHIN ENDS UP GOING TO!

Great keep me posted SD!! I'll ad you to my art-links & am looking forward to your work!! Sweet Storm Shadow by the way!! I always enjoyed the original take you have on him there!

Yes, we'll definately have to do so :-) 2008 will be our year! We'll take over the art forum!!!!!! **shakes fists** XD

You my friend...have a DEAL!!! ^_-

[jjsvipers]

im late to the thread but your artwork is great!

[Shin Densetsu]

Great keep me posted SD!! I'll ad you to my art-links & am looking forward to your work!! Sweet Storm Shadow by the way!! I always enjoyed the original take you have on him there!



You my friend...have a DEAL!!! ^_-
Thanks man, I'll put a link up to your site too once my blogger is ready! The Storm Shadow was based on an idea I had for repainting the 25th anniversary single pack Storm Shadow in the 2002 figure's colors. The 2002 Storm Shadow rules, one of the best takes on the design and one of Storm Shadow's best costumes, plus it looked the most aggressive. Too bad it never got a decent O-ring figure, hence why I had an idea to repaint the anniversary figure in those colors!

[Kris Smith]

You my friend...have a DEAL!!! ^_-
Excellent! :-)

im late to the thread but your artwork is great!
Not a problem, glad you like it! :-)